桶 (tǒng) — bucket; trash can; barrel
Definition
A bucket or barrel — an open, handled container, usually bigger than 盆 (basin) or 罐 (jar/can). Often holds water, trash, or oil.
noun
buckettrash canbarrel
Measure word · 个, 只
Examples
- 桶。Tā bǎ tǒng lǐ de shuǐ dào diào le.He poured out the water in the bucket.
- 桶。Zhè ge tǒng yòng lái zhuāng lā jī.This bucket is used to hold trash.
- 桶。Chú fáng lǐ de tǒng zhuāng mǎn le yóu.The bucket in the kitchen is full of oil.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
Sound part声符shēngfú
甬
甬yǒng桶tǒng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The left part 木 shows wood, and the right part 甬 gives the sound.
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